For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.

We acknowledge the (NN) People and their stewardship
of this land throughout the ages.

(NN) is a safe place for all people to worship regardless ofrace, creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation

GATHERING

Gathering Music

Entry into the CelebrationThe gong is sounded three times

From season to season, this world, through its phases,
shows love has no dearth.

This love is for sharing,
to nurture well-being,
to echo God's call.(Adapt.APratt/hfw)

So let us celebrate this richness and diversity of life.

(Note: A suggested process for introducing new hymns, called Hymn of the Month, can be found HERE)

Lighting of the Community CandleIn this place of friendship there is freedom.

Let the light we kindle go before us,

strong in hope,

wide in good will,

inviting the day to come.

The community candle is lit

HymnThe people stand as they are able, to sing“Praise to God, the World’s Creator” (Tune: ‘Abbot’s Leigh’, 87 87D. 153 TiS)Praise to God, the world’s creator,Source of life and growth and breath,Cradling in her arms her children,Holding them from birth to death.In our bodies, in our living,Strength and truth of all we do,God is present, working with us,Making us creators too.

Praise to God our saving Wisdom,
Meeting us with love and grace,
Helping us to grow in wholeness,
Giving freedom, room, and space.
In our hurting, in our risking,
In the thoughts we dare not name,
God is present, growing with us,
Healing us from sin and shame.

Praise to God, the Spirit in us,
Prompting hidden depths of prayer,
Firing us to long for justice,
Reaching out with tender care.
In our searching, in our loving,
In our struggles to be free,
God is present, living in us,
Pointing us to what shall be. (JBerry/cw)
Remain standing

Opening SentencesAs we gather to remember and share stories of faith,
let us rejoice in the presentness of God.
All Before our stories began, there was God;
through all our days, God walks with us.

God’s creative presence is moving among us.
All Let us sing praises and offer thanks.

Dance with the God who frees us for new possibilities.
All We seek to grow in faith and in love for one another.

Act of AwarenessFor all that is our life we offer thanks and praise.
For all life is a gift which we are called to use,
to build the store of common good.

May we know once again that we are not isolated beings
but connected, in mystery and miracle,
to the universe,
to this community, and
to each other.

OR

We pray:
Surprising God, as we move into new experiences,
help us to be open to your presentness
among us and within.

May we sense your glory
in the sights and sounds and breath of this Lenten day.
Amen.

Hymn “Choose Life” (Tune: ‘St Cecelia’, 66 66)6 TMT
Choose life and turn from death,
make peace instead of war,
share love in place of hate,
and dance the Gospel life.

See beauty with your eyes,
make beauty with our hands,
live beauty in your lives
and dance the Gospel life.

Seek justice for the poor,
find freedom for yourself,
help people use their power
and dance the Gospel life.

Hymn “Let All Beauty…” (Tune: ‘Danby’, (LM) 88 88)46 SiF/326 SLT
Let all the beauty we have known
illuminate our hearts and minds.
Rejoice in wonders daily shown,
in faith and joy, and love that binds.

We celebrate with singing hearts
the loveliness of sky and earth,
the inspiration of the arts,
the miracle of ev’ry birth

Life’s music and its poetry
surround and bless us through our days.
For these we sing in harmony,
together giving thanks and praise. (DMcLGreeley)The people sit

WelcomeIn your own wordsA warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are here at (NN) for the first time,
or who have returned after an absence.

Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following worship.
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.

v1 Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets
than to heed the direction of their vision.
v2 It is easier blindly to venerate the saints
than to learn the human quality of their sainthood.

v1 It is easier to glorify the heroes of the race than
v2 to give weight to their examples.

v1 To worship the wise is much easier
than to profit by their wisdom.
v2 Great leaders are honored,
not by adulation, but by sharing
their insights and values.

v1 Grandchildren of those who stoned the prophet
sometimes gather up the stones
to build the prophet's monument.
v2 Always it is easier to pay homage to prophets
than to heed the direction of their vision.

SilenceCome apart from the busyness of family and work,
and dwell in the presentness of God,
our dynamic source of being.(Silence)

God calls us to renew ourselves and our life's purpose
as we gather with others who are searching.(Silence)

A Litany for Lent (Optional)In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and share a special litany for today
as we begin the Season of Lent.The people stand as they are able

Jesus invites us to a way of celebration,
meeting and feasting with the humble and poor.
All Let us walk his way with joy.

Jesus beckons us to a way of risk,
letting go of our security.
All Let us walk his way with joy.

Jesus challenges us to listen to the voices
of those who have nothing to lose.
All Let us walk his way with joy.

Jesus points us to a way of self-giving,
where power and status are overturned.
AllLet us walk his way with joy.

Jesus calls us to follow the way of the cross,
where despair is transformed
by the promise of new life.
All Let us walk his way with joy. (JBerry/bot)

Sharing 'The Peace'This is a house of God. A place of peace.
A place where we befriend one another. (Adapt.RMitchell/bb)Let us greet one another as a sign of God's presence and peace.

The peace of God is here... to stay. (Iona)
All Thanks be to God.You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours

Hymn People stand as they are able, to sing
“When Evenings Shorten” (Tune: ‘Cavell Street’)147 HoS
When evenings shorten and grow cool,
as grapes turn purple on the vine,
as golden grain is safely stored,
we see again our Easter sign.

As daisies fade along the hill,
and bush birds come to us for food,
in rain, or mist or bitter chill
we see again our Easter sign.

As trees grow bare, we see the trace
of life’s new buds along the bough.
We do not need to wait for spring;
we see again our Easter sign.

So let the southern Church rejoice!
As colour flames from hill and plain
so let us sing with hearts of joy:
we see again our Easter sign (SSmith/adapted)
People sit

CELEBRATING

Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,

shall now be received.

Presentation

We are called to make real the sharing of the gifts God has given to us.

We offer what we have for the good of all.

Conversation with the ChildrenChildren gather on the conversation mat

Conversation:

"Somewhere someone:"

The kingdom of love is coming because:
Allsomewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,

somewhere someone shares with another in need,

somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,

somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,

somewhere someone returns good for evil,

somewhere someone serves another, in love,

somewhere someone is calm in a storm,

somewhere someone is loving everybody.

Is that someone you?(jke)

Reflections and PrayersCare Candle:We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.Joys and concerns shared.

Focused Thoughts:

Listening Response:
Holy God, as you have touched us
All May we now touch others
with your love in us. (Adapt.KGalloway/cw)

And so we take this flame and light our special care candle.
For ourselves, for those named or remembered, and in solidarity with those
who have not the freedom to express their concern or celebration
for fear of discrimination or condemnation…The Care candle is lit

In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of the sacred among us,
and to see new possibilities of the now.

The 'Abba' Prayer:You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as appropriate

All God, who cares for us,The wonder of whose presence fills us with awe.

Let kindness, justice and love shine in our world.Let your secrets be known here as they are in heaven.Give us the food and the hope we need for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoingas we forgive the wrongs done to us.Protect us from pride and from despairand from the fear and hate which can swallow us up.

In you is truth, meaning, glory and power,while worlds come and go.Amen.(MFurlong/nwi)

SCATTERING

HymnPeople stand as they are able, to sing"Where the Road Runs Out" 156 (v1-2) AA
Where the road runs out and the signposts end,
where we come to the edge of today,
be the God of Abraham for us,
send us out upon our way.Refrain:
Lord, you were our beginning,
the faith that gave us birth.
We look to you, our ending,
our hope for heaven and earth.

When the coast is left and we journey on
to the rim of the sky and the sea,
be the sailor's friend, be the dolphin Christ,
lead us in to eternity.Refrain:Remain standing

Parting WordsTime has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...The candle is extinguished

Go out from this place to your daily journey through life.
All As we do, may we fashion relationships of inclusion
and reconciliation, and a life-style that loves
and treats people and the earth gently, as God does.

And may the Holy One surprise us all on the way.

Words of BlessingMay the God you see in all the colours of creation
arouse in you a sense of awe and wonder.

May the God who is a sacred presence be real to you.

May the God who is a source of inspiration and courage
keep calling you forward.

May your God go with you, and bless you.(FMacnab)All Amen. May it be so.

Hymn(Cont). "Where the Road Runs Out" 156 (v3) AA
When the clouds are low and the wind is strong,
when tomorrow's storm draws near,
be the spirit bird hovering overhead
who will take away our fearCGibsonRefrain:
Lord, you were our beginning,
the faith that gave us birth.
We look to you, our ending,
our hope for heaven and earth.People sit